Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere caught again with cigarette in mouth

• Photos also show midfielder at pool party in US holding cigar
• ‘I’m not a smoker,’ Wilshere said after similar incident last year

Jack Wilshere was pictured with a cigarette outside a London nightclub nine months ago. He said at the time: 'I made a mistake, players make mistakes, I’m not a smoker.' Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Jack Wilshere faces fresh questions over his off-field habits after he was pictured with a cigarette in his mouth on holiday in the United States.

The pictures, published by the Daily Mail, show the Arsenal and England midfielder at a pool party in Las Vegas with a cigarette held to his lips by a man who appears to be a friend. In another photograph Wilshere is holding a cigar.

Nine months ago Wilshere was pictured with a cigarette outside a London nightclub. He said at the time: “I made a mistake, players make mistakes, I’m not a smoker.”

Asked then if he thought it was an issue that could return, he said: “No, it’s not. I’m not a smoker, so I think that will be my last one.”

Wilshere, who had initially claimed that incident was part of a prank, was criticised by Arsène Wenger. “I disagree completely with that behaviour,” the Arsenal manager said. “There are two things: first of all when you are a football player you are an example, and as well you don’t do what damages your health.

“The fact [is] you can damage your health at home, you can smoke at home and you can drink at home, and nobody sees it, but when you go out socially you as well damage your reputation as an example.”